The agreements foresee support of Euros 200,000 for IPDC and Euros 100,000 to the Global Education Monitoring Report.  

The Director-General expressed appreciation to Finland for its longstanding support to core activities of the Organization, noting the country’s international renown for the quality of its education system and its support to advancing education globally. She also recalled Finland’s important hosting of World Press Freedom Day in Helsinki on May 3 last, in the presence of the President.  

Secretary of State Peter Stenlund noted that Finland has a long tradition of supporting education and freedom of expression. Despite cutbacks in development assistance, he noted the country’s commitment to respond to huge humanitarian needs. The Director-General encouraged further support in this area, in particular for the education of refugees.  

Over the past two years, Finland has contributed assistance to projects for youth affected by the Syria crisis, to the Enhancement of Literacy in Afghanistan programme and to support freedom of expression in the Arab States. Finland is an important contributor to the flagship CapED programme, to which it has pledged to make a further commitment. The Director-General underlined the importance of this programme and its successful track record in reinforcing national education capacities.  

The Secretary of State was accompanied by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Finland to UNESCO, Mr Pekka Puustinen, and members of the Permanent Delegation.